SOHC Head Gasket Q??? 3-out-of-4 Cyl. Don't have water passage cut out???

[heylookatthat240]

I'm replacing my head gasket on my KA24E when I noticed with the new OEM Nissan gasket only the first cylinder has water passeges cut out, but the rest of the cylinders are not cut out for the coolant passages...

The blown gasket was an OEM Nissan gasket as well that appeared to be the same way...

Shold I cut the passages out myself, or is the gasket made like that for a reason and I shouldnt touch it?

Thanks in advance!

[djsilver]

The ones that are cut out are to let cooling water in from the block at one end only and that water exits at the upper coolant hose connection on the head and then back to the radiator.

The water goes; radiator -> water pump -> block -> head -> back to radiator.

[heylookatthat240]

Yeah I installed it as it came, hopefully it keeps holding compression when I get it running...